Alpha Noah

~Abella

“I was in the immortal realm.”

I’m not lying. I did go to the immortal realm, I’m just not going to tell him what happened there. Noah flinches, blinking a few times in confusion. I suppose that’s not a normal admission for the typical mortal, but Noah knows about my relationship with Cian, so he shouldn’t be surprised. It’s not much of an excuse for missing work, but it will have to do.

“With Cian?” he questions. I consider that for a moment, wondering whether or not I should throw him under the bus…Of course I should. He’s the one who got me into this situation to begin with, so maybe I will use him as my scapegoat.

I rub the back of my neck uneasily, looking for an excuse. “Yes. He…drugged me. I didn’t wake for eight days, and here I am.”

Noah for a single moment, looks bewildered, then slightly angry.

“That’s it? Your mate drugged you for no reason whatsoever?” he questions, scanning my face for a reaction. “I don’t believe you.”

“It wasn’t for no reason…I haven’t been so accepting of this, how do I put it, bond between us. I was acting out when he asked me to stay in the immortal realm with him forever,” I tell him. It’s a little more honesty than I expected myself to admit, but the intensity of Noah’s gaze is forcing me to keep talking, like he deserves an explanation.

He left me with no answers the last time he saw me. He deserves to be lied to, or have information withheld. But the way he stares at me, the green in his eyes darkening to the point I’m almost scared.

“And that’s meant to be okay?”

“I never said that,” I say softly. “I’m just saying that was why I was late.”

Noah leans back in his seat, folding his arms over his chest. He’s skepticism is making me nervous. There’s no way he’s going to accept that as an excuse. It sounded much better in my head, and now I’ve made myself and my mate out to be completely insane. Noah already doesn’t like Cian, and this will only amplify that.

“You start work tomorrow. I’m feeling forgiving today,” he sighs, running a hand back through his hair. My eyes widened, completely taken aback by his answer. Is he really letting me have my job after all of this? He seems serious…

“Thank you, Noah. I could do with some normality in my life,” I admit. I push my chair back, standing. This meeting went much better than I could have imagined.

“Hey, Abella?” Noah says, cutting my off before I can turn to leave the room. “Can we talk later? I have a meeting right now, but I want to talk to you about what happened the night you left. You deserve some answers.”

I breathe in deeply. “I’ll come over at eight.”

***

I walk out of Noah’s office, Gia, his assistant nowhere to be seen. Instead, I see the last person I wanted to at the doorway.

Cian.

He just walks into the room, not looking surprised to see me at all. I’m not exactly sure why he’s here, but I know his intentions aren’t good. Maybe he is here to retaliate for the way I left him, or maybe he is trying to get me to lose my job so I will return to the immortal realm with him and live with him and all his money. That’s the last thing I want.

“Okay, this is too far,” I mutter, walking up to jab him in the chest. He doesn’t even react, looking down at me with a glint in his eyes I’ve become unfortunately familiar with. “Coming to my work? I thought our personal issues could be dealt with in private.”

“I’m actually not here for you,” he tells me, brushing my hair back over my shoulder in one casual sweep. I swat his hand away, irritated at how casual he is acting. “I’m here for Noah.”

I glower at him. “What? Why?”

“Consider it a business conversation. I wouldn’t worry about it,” he tells me, walking past me to Noah’s office door, which he wraps on his knuckles promptly, but not without sending me an amused wink. “Have a good day, my lovely mate.”

***

~Cian

“Well, you call and I arrive,” I greet.

Noah sits behind his desk, looking at me under those dark brows, brooding. I don’t think I’ve ever seen that man smile. Ever. He’s always moody, hating me to the deepest core of him. I don’t blame him, because I don’t particularly like him either. And not just because his mate is mine, but because he really can’t lighten up. Does he even know what fun is?

“This wouldn’t have had to be arranged if you didn’t screw everything over,” he mutters, gritting his back teeth in the way that really drives me insane. I suppose that habit of his is only appears when I’m around to rile him up. “What happened to our deal?”

“Contracts bore me. Did you really think me, an Immortal would agree to a contract regarding my mate?” I ask, pulling the chair back in front of his desk to sit.

Noah’s jaw ticks.

“You’re right, I shouldn’t trust you. But this doesn’t mean you can get away with this without consequences,” he tells me. Maybe I despise Noah so much because he pretends to take the high road each time. Like he doesn’t have his own issues to be held accountable for. Lucky for him, I’m not so evil as to tell Abella his dirty secrets. That’s for later.

I kick my feet up onto his desk, loving the way it makes his eyes darken, prodding that side of him I love so much. “Consequence isn’t a part of my vocabulary.”

“Do you have to remind everyone you speak to of how much of an immortal, you are? The only person you care about is yourself,” he tells me, tone slow and meant to torment me. Does he not think I already know that? “How can Abella even stand you.”

“I wouldn’t speak badly about Immortals, Noah,” I say. “You’re mates one of us now.”

I get too much pleasure out of seeing his expression. There’s doubt, immediately, but when my smile doesn’t falter, he starts to look skeptical, then unbelievably shocked. The last thing he would have expected was for me to go this far…I never planned it, exactly, but not that is has happened, I’m pleased. That doesn’t mean I won’t hunt down who killed her and ensure that if he isn’t already an immortal, he will be one soon.

“Oh, she didn’t tell you about how she got suddenly murdered by a mysterious man and I had to fight to get her back from Death?” I say, knowing full well he had no idea, but wanting to see the look on his face even more. “You’re welcome, by the way.”ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

“Who would do this to her?” Noah asks shakily. “And why would you let them?”

As much as I hate the guy, I have to give it to him. If one thing means something to him, it’s Abella, his mate. It only slightly bothers me.

“It wasn’t planned. Someone spiked her drink, got me to take her outside before he poisoned her while I was…distracted,” I admit, rubbing the back of my neck. Not my finest hour, however, it was clearly immaculately planned out beyond my control. I couldn’t have saved Abella that night, even if I wanted to. I was too distracted with revenge.

Noah shakes his head. “She was drinking? What have you done?”

“And who was the one who had to grovel to Death to get her back? You should be thanking me,” I tell him, shrugging my shoulders. That wasn’t easy. Death is so stubborn, hating to go against the set of rules of nature that the immortals agree upon. However, she was willing to make a exception for me. She has a soft spot for love stories.

“You disgust me. You don’t deserve her,” Noah mutters.

“And neither do you,” I tell him. He already knows that, but reminding him is all a part of the fun. Can’t have him getting hopeful about something he will never possess. “And I don’t suggest telling Abella about any of this, unless you want me to tell her your little secret.”

It’s the perfect cord to be struck, as Noah’s expression morphs to one of spite. “She will see you for who you really are.”

“Likewise. At least I’m transparent about being an asshole,” I admit. “What about you, Alpha?”

“This will have consequences,” Noah reminds me.

I get to my feet, moving around to the back of the chair. Noah looks at me, pretending I can’t see the pained look in his eyes. He knows better than me. He acts this way to protect Abella, which is admirable. I wish I could have that self-control…to know what is best for your mate. However, I don’t regret anything. The contract to stay away from her that we both made so long ago suddenly means nothing to me. It was never worth it.

“I’m so afraid,” I mutter sarcastically. I push the chair in, causing a deafening squeal. “Keep your secrets Alpha. Goodbye.”